15d
15d
CRAIG HOPE AT THE NOU CAMP:
Barcelona did not need the cunning of this city's pickpockets to win‚ not when
Newcastle simply handed over their wallet. In doing so‚
Eddie Howe's side lost the richest match in the club's history and a heavy cost‚ too. A record
European defeat in
which morale and momentum took a kicking at the feet of
Lamine Yamal and
Raphinha. Their season now rests‚ very uncomfortably after this‚ on Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby.
Barcelona‚ at their brutal best‚ can do this to teams‚ of course. But
Newcastle were never likely to beat the
Spanish champions when so determined to beat themselves. That will be the annoyance for
Howe‚ just when he thought his team had rediscovered their doggedness in defence. This was more like a dog's dinner and
Yamal and Co gleefully dined out on the generosity.